Crochet Basket

This crochet basket will sure add a personal touch to any gift - just make it in any color you need. You can decorate it with hearts for the Valentine Day gift or with flowers from my flower applique collection or other crochet appliques. You can also leave the gift basket as it is - without appliques at all... creativity is the key.

Recommended crochet hook size: US G 6 0r 4.00 mm

The gauge is not very important because this is not a sized garment.

Approximate size of the crochet basket is 6 inches (15.5 cm) in diameter and 2 3/4 inches (7 cm) before the fringe (3 1/2 inches or 9 cm with the fringe).

Recommended yarn: stiff 100% cotton tread worsted weight. If you use the soft tread the gift basket may require stiffening (use special stiffener for crocheted projects). I used Red heart Creme de la Creme in Cream and Bright Pink.

Stitches and abbreviations used:

SC - single crochet, DC - double crochet, CH - chain, slip stitch.

The bottom of the basket.

Start the crochet basket with the round bottom. The bottom is worked in
continuous rounds. Do not make a slip stitch at the end of each row
(round) and do not make a CH stitch at the beginning of each row
(round). Use a stitch marker to indicate the beginning of the row and
move the stitch marker up as your work progresses.

Note:

SC 2
(the # of stitches is AFTER the stitch's abbreviation) means: make two
single crochet stitches in two stitches of the previous row.

2SC (the # of stitches is BEFORE the stitch's abbreviation) means: make two single crochet stitches in one stitch (increase).

CH 3, join in the ring with a slip stitch.

Row #1: SC 10 in the ring.

Row #2: [SC 1, 2SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Row #3: [SC 2, 2 SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Row #4: [SC 3, 2SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Row #5: [SC 4, 2 SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Row #6: [SC 5, 2SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Rows ##7-8: [SC 6, 2SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Rows ## 9-10: [SC 7, 2SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

Rows ## 11-12: [SC 8, 2 SC], repeat [ ] 5 times

The round bottom should be about 6 inches (15.5 cm) in diameter.

The sides of the basket.

The side of the basket is made separately and attached to the bottom with a row of SC stitches.

Row #2: Turn, [CH 1, DC in the second stitch from the hook], repeat [ ] 5 times (make DC stitches in this row in the DC stitches of the previous row - it will create mesh pattern).

Continue to make mesh rows as Row #2 until the length of the side is equal to the circumference of the round bottom. (In my case it is 39 rows). When the last row of the side is finished, do not cut off the tread and start 2 rows of fringe (it will be the top side of the crochet gift basket):

First row of the fringe: Into each space between the rows make a group: [SC, DC, DC, SC]. When finish, cut off the tread and secure the knot.

Second row of the fringe: Attach the different color yarn/tread: for each group ([SC, DC, DC, SC]) of the previous row

[Slip stitch in the first SC of the previous row, CH 3, slip stitch in DC of the previous row, CH 3, slip stitch in the next DC of the previous row, CH 3, slip stitch in SC and slip stitch between the groups.

In this picture you can see 2 finished groups of the fringe of the crochet basket.

Assembly.

Attach the un-fringed end of the side to the round bottom with a row of SC stitches around the bottom (in the first 3 pages this row of SC stitches is in pink yarn). P.S. You will add crochet heart applique later.

When you almost finished the row of Sc stitches around the bottom - join
the short edges of the side of the basket with the row of the slip
stitches as shown:

Here is the ready crochet gift basket! Now you can add crochet hearts and flowers to it!

Crochet heart applique.

How to make a crochet heart applique for the crochet gift basket:

Row #1: CH 4, 2DC in the first stitch of this CH4

Row #2: Turn, CH 3, DC in the same stitch, DC in the next stitch, 2DC in the last stitch.

Row #3: Turn, CH 3, DC in the same stitch, DC in the next (second) stitch, SC in the third (middle) stitch, DC in the 4th stitch, DC in the last stitch, CH 3, slip stitch in the last stitch.

Here are the pictures of the process step-by step:

Row #1

Row #2

Row #2 continued

Row #2 continued

Row #2 completed

Row #3

Row #3 continued

Row #3 continued

Row #3 continued

Row #3 continued

Row #3 continued

Row #3 continued

Row #3 continued

Row #3 completed

Cut off the tread leaving approximately 11 in (28 cm) of tread - you will use it to sew on the heart to the crochet basket.